Sidney A. Miller

Sidney A. Miller, 85, of Beach Park, Illinois went home peacefully to his Lord on Nov. 7, 2017. He was born in Oklahoma City, OK on Nov. 13, 1931 to Sidney and Una (Cheeseman) Miller. He married the love of his life, Martha Martin, on Aug. 9, 1958 in Chicago at the Pacific Garden Mission.

Sid is the beloved father of Vicki (Bill) Daniels, Dale (MaryJane) Miller and Roberta (Ron) Witt; nine grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2:00 pm at Indian Hill Bible Church, 36133 N. Fairfield Rd., Ingleside, IL.

Sid's spiritual formation began early with the faithful prodding of his mother. Quoting Psalm 1 or Psalm 23 was often the prerequisite for being allowed to go outside to play.  In 1944 as a youth Sid began attending the City Bible Church in Oklahoma City under the mentorship of Pastor W.D. Stewart.  Pastor Stewart would remain a mentor in Sid's life for years to come.

After graduating high school in Oklahoma in 1949, Sid attended Central Oklahoma University for one year and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1950.  After 4 A½ years of service in the Air Force stationed at Lackland Air Force Base (San Antonio), Sid enrolled at Moody Bible Institute in the fall of 1955.  Sid was active in student ministries and there earned the nickname "Fellowship Sid".  His passion was working with other former servicemen at Moody and he started a servicemen's ministry that was attended by over 70 students with prior military experience.  Sid graduated from Moody in 1958 with an associate degree in Pastoral Studies.  The following fall the newly wedded Sid transferred to Wheaton College where he graduated in 1959 with a B.A. in History.

Kids started coming before the Wheaton diploma was even in hand.  Vicki Lynn (1959) came during finals week and mom and baby were brought home from the hospital between final exams.  Sidney Dale came 2 years later in 1961. Roberta Ann came along in 1963.  Sid and Martha have been blessed with grandchildren Bethany, Cara, and Becca (Vicki); Jason, Ryan, Amanda, and Joshua (Dale); and Natasha and Luke (Roberta). Two great-grandchildren, Shane and Savanna, belong to oldest grandson Jason.  Ryan is married to Ashlyn (Plastow). Amanda is married to Tommy Henderson.  He will always be loved by all his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids

In 1960 Sid began teaching 6th grade in the Round Lake school system.  Soon after in 1961 he also took on the responsibilities as pastor of a small congregation at Lake Region Bible Church where he ministered until 1964. 1969 was a year of several changes.  Sid began ministering at Indian Hill Bible Church (known at that time as Indian Hill Chapel) in January 1969. Later the same year he transferred to the Waukegan School System and began teaching 4th grade.  For another 17 years Sid was bi-vocational, teaching in the public school and pastoring at Indian Hill.

In 1986 Sid took early retirement from teaching to devote himself fully to the increasing needs of the pastorate at Indian Hill.  For another 16 years until his "retirement" as Sr. Pastor in 2002, Sid ministered faithfully.  Upon his retirement he continued to support the Indian Hill ministry in visitation, discipleship, and other care needs.

Sid always was (and still is) a man of passion.  He loved his Oklahoma Sooners.  He loved his gardening.  He loved his math and statistics.  More than these he loved the memorization of scripture.  In his lifetime Sid memorized over 8,000 Bible verses and in this semi-retirement could be seen power walking around malls and stores with his dog-eared New Testament in hand quoting to himself.  When he would take a break it would be to witness to employees in the store or anyone he could strike up a conversation with.

His love for memorization coupled with his enthusiasm for competition found a perfect fulfillment in another passion - IFCA Bible Quizzing.  "Mr. Quiz", as he was known for years, spent countless hours helping  young people to memorize scripture and participate in Bible quizzing.  He will be remembered by many as the guy cheering at the top of his lungs for both teams, and only slightly louder for the Indian Hill team.  And every year at the National Youth Convention Sid was the oldest "young person" in the guy's dorm and loved every minute of it.

Sid was a spiritual father to many - a pastor to pastors and mentor to mentors.  He will be greatly missed, for now, by his spiritual family who remain on this earth.  We sorrow, but not as those who have no hope.  November 7, 2017 was only "goodnight for now", not "goodbye".

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